Concrete construction and method of producing the same.



12909. a sums-snm 1.

Patented June 15,

G. M. LILJBNURANTZ.

ooNcRETB GoNsTRUoTIoN AND METHOD or PRoDUoING THE snm PPLIOATION FILEDAUG. 22 925,204.

By mrtg@ ATTORNEYS Patented June 15, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. A. M. LILJENCRANTZ. CONCRETE ooNsTEUoTIoN AND METHOD oE TEoDUoING TEESAME A1I:ILIfJA'lON FILED AUG. 22, 1908. 925,204.

A TTOH/VEYS Patented June 15, l1909.

a sums-SHEET a.,`

LILJENGRANTZ. CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION ANI) METHOD OF PBODUCING THE SAME.

G. A. M

APPLIMTION FILED AUG.

THE :vonnis Fermes co.. WASHINGTON. n, c

GUSTAVE A. M. LILJENORANTZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD 0F PRODUCING SAME.

To all whom t may concern:

lie it known that I, Gus'ravn A. M. LiL- Jnncnan'rz, a citizen of theUnited States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented a new and improved ConcreteConstruction and inlethod of Producing the Same, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention consists in a general way in the formation of largeconcrete blocks at intervals crosswise of the structure to be produced,and connecting these blocks, as also their reinforcing, by intermediateblocks of approximately like construction, each block being constructedwithin a box form having a number of cell boxes which are placedtherein, spaced from each other and from the walls of the principal boxor form, and filled with sand, rock or other cheap material at the sametime the spaces thereabout at the outside are filled with concrete. Vhenthe concrete reaches the tops of the cell boxes the latter are coveredand the concrete carried a suitable distance thereabove, thus producingabsolute monoiiths.

Blocks made in accordance with my process may be used in theconstruction of new superstructures over cribs sunk to the properheight; for rebuilding superstructures over old crib work, for new pierwork or docks, in which case large blocks should be placed on a pilefoundation sawed off at a suitable height; for docks in lakes or riverswhere the bottom consists of solid rock; for bridge abutments orintermediate piers; for retaining walls, dams and other bulky, heavystructures where the cross-section and base must be of considerablemagnitude and would consequently make the work very expensive if ofsolid concrete.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a sectional plan of my improved concrete construction at anintermediate stage of the process; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2of Fig. l, looking' in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a plan ofthe construction, partly in section, at an advanced stage of theprocess; Fig. e@ is a crosssection of the same substantially on the line-Ll---t of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the structure onthe line of Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 22, 1908.

Patented June 15, 1909.

Serial No. 449,812.

3; Fig. 6 illustrates the` construction of the intermediate blocks whenit is preferred t0 keep vthe sea water out of the concrete during theperiod of setting; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan of one of the outer boxforms; Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views illustrating the manner ofconnecting the reinforcing 0f the initially formed blocks preparatory toforming the intermediate connecting blocks of the structure; Fig. l0 isa sectional View illustrating the connection of the side walls of theform with the transverse tie-rods; and Fig. ll is a longitudinal sectionthrough one of the concrete blocks used below the normal water level inconstructing the foundation for the intermediate blocks, as in Fig. 6.

For all structures built on concrete, as retaining walls, etc., theconstruction will be very simple and will be readily understood from thefollowing detail description, which covers that for the building of piersuperstructures. These have been especially selected for a more minutedescription, because .having to be built in part below water level itrequires special treatment in several respects. 1

The hitherto adopted method of building new concrete superstructuresover old crib work, consisted in brief in the removing of the old timberwork to lone or two feet below low water, to form thereon a timberfoundation suitable to support the concrete blocks of sufficient heightto bring their top surfaces above the average high water mark; byconnecting these blocks on opposite sides of the pier by means of anchoror tie-rods; filling the spaces between them with concrete, and finallyconstructing the upper part on the foundation so formed according tosome adopted design. This manner of procedure requires much of the lowerwork to be done below two, three or more feet of water, which isnecessarily costly and slow.

The construction in accordance with my invention islas followszAfter theold crib work, and protruding drift bolts, have been removed to thedesired elevation, generally about one foot below low water, where thetimber may be considered as always wet and, therefore, not liable torot, and it is found that the tops of the side timbers 5, 5, are in ahorizontal plane, there is nothing further required in forming thefoundation than the placing lengthwise of the pier, and resting on thetop cross-ties 6, in one or more rows, as may be deemed necessary forthe support of the large forms with their concrete filling, timbers T,with their upper surfaces in the same horizontal plane as those of theside timbers 5. Should there be any notable difference in elevationbetween the side timbers on opposite sides of the pier, this may beremedied by shimming. A slight difference` however, may be ignored, asthe top of the concrete can be given absolutely the desired elevationwhen formed, will hereinafter appear. The foundation being thus secured,the spaces between t-he side timbers and supports respectively should befilled as near as practical to the height of the tops of these timbers,when all is in readiness for placing the forms thereon. These' forms orboxes are of two kinds, first, the large boxes S, and, second, thesmaller boxes 9, which, for the purpose of convenience, l will termrespectively, the block forms and the cell boxes. The outer or blockform determines the outside dimensions of the finished concrete block,and the cell boxes the dimensions of the cells or openings in theconcrete mass.

rThe block forms 9 are preferably constructed of sound and merchantablelumber'. As the lower part is to be submerged some two or three feetbelow the water level, that much of the box must be made water-tight orat least substantially so. For this reason they should be made frommatched lumber of a thickness to give them sufficient strength to resistthe pressure of the concrete filling when in a plastic condition beforeits setting, and the seams should be callred, if required. The bottom ofthe block form must also be made strong enough to carry the weight ofthe concrete before the setting of the latter, although the supportingtimbers 7 decrease this requirement materially, and after the concretehas set, the bottom of each block form will in itself have all necessarystrength to be supported by the side timbers alone by reason of I-beams10 or other suitable reinforcing, arranged transversely of the structureto be produced.

The ends of the block forms which are to shape the sides of thesuperstructures will be detachably connected or nailed to the bottom ofthe form, and must have the inner side smooth to give the concrete afinished surface. The sides of these forms are also made detachable butneed not have smooth surfaces except at the joints. ln the construe tionof these sides they are made to form buttresses l1, as best shown inFig. l, which l are located at two or more places at each side of thefinished concrete block, to insure a better connection betweenintermediate blocks and provide against any tendency of the connectingblocks being disturbed by heavy wave motion against the pier. After thefour side walls of the block form are in their proper positions they aresecured together by as many iron bands l2 (see Figs.

l and 2) as may be necessary. These bands are fastened together at thecorners by bolts 13. The bands are provided with holes at suitablepoints, through which pass tie-rods 14 and l5, respectively arrangedcrosswise and lengthwise of the pier, and designed to hold the oppositesides of the forms together, and also reinforce the finishedconstruction. rlie inside length of the block form is made equal to thewidth of the crib. as that dimension will determine the width of the newsuperstructure, the width of the form depending upon the size of formthat can be conveniently handled with a. derriclr. Thus, for a pier ofcomparatively small width, the form may be larger than for a pier oflarger width, and vice versa.

The cell. boxes 9 are preferably made of the cheapest kind of lumber,and since they are generally uniform in shape and dimensions, thislumber may be out to order in the mills to the required size andafterward nailed together, thus diminishing the cost of manufacture inso far as practicable. ln order that the cell boxes may be sufficientlystrong to resist the pressure of the concrete before it sets, they maybe braced on the inside, or, more generally, lled with sand, slag,riprap, or any other heavy cheap material, simultaneously with theplacing of the concrete in the spaces formed between ihem and theblot-lt form, maintaining` both the fillingl of the cell boxes and theconcrete at the sa me level during the process of construction. rl'hecell boxes should also be such as not to absorb water from the concrete,which condition insured by coating the wood with paraflin, asphaltine orthe like.

ln placing the block forms in position, i

they should be so arranged that the ends at the inside are in exact linewith the proposed site of the finished concrete superstructure. ltlbeamsl() or other suitable reinforcing` (see Eig. 5) are then placed in thebottom of the box, extending from side to side, and after concrete hasbeen filled in sutlieiently to cover them, the cell boxes, with theirtops open, are properly located between the longitudinal and transversetiebars. The filling of these boxes and of the outlying spaces, thensimultaneously proceeds until the tops of the cell boxes are reached,when the covers are applied and the concrete continued over as well asaround them until the desired crown is attained. Thus the whole heightof the superstructure from the base to the crown is formed by acontinuous operation, and will constitute, when finished, a perfectmonolith. If the side timbers 5 of the foundation. do not lie in ahorizontal plane, this inequality is compensated for when the top of thesuperstructure is reached, which can be given any desired finish eitherwith a crown along the middle or sloped `in either direction, etc. lnlocatingl the succes 'ion of block forms they must be placedsulliciently far apart to permit of the removal of the detachablelsides. if this distance is `just large enough for the purpose, and theintervening space is lilled with solid concrete, it will make the allunnecessarily heavy. lt is, therefore, deemed better to make the spacelarge enough to place the cell boxes in, as shown in Figs. S and 5, andproceed vith the tilling in a similar manner as for the initial blocks.after the forms for producing the 'walls at the sides have been placedin posilion, as indicated in Fig.

ln connecting the `initially formed blocks with the intermediate blocks,after the former have been made and had suliicient time to sel'. thesides of the block forms are removed to make room for the special endl'ornis 1T (see Fig. 3), which are held in place by means of tie-bars14a, which, in construction. are the same or similar to the tie-bars it.The end forms 1T should reach below the side timbers. In removing theside walls of the block forms, the nuts are taken olf the tie-bars l5and the bolts 13 removed at which time the side walls may be slippedfrom the concrete. The threaded ends of the bolts are then connectedwith a turn-buckle, preferably as illustrated in Figs. t3 and 9, thisbuckle consisting of eyenuts 'lo' and a connecting link 19, the linkbeing applied after each eye-nut has been threaded to the properposition. rlhese connections will form a strong reinforcement whensurrounded with the concrete.

i t will be observed from Fig. l0 that the lieb-ars ll instead of beingin the nat-ure of a continuous rod, at each end are provided with a footin which is threaded the bolt 2O passed through the end wall of theblock torni. the ends of the tie-bar proper being` spaced from the endwall by a thimble 2l, and when the bolt and wall are detached, the holein the concrete produced by the thimble can be filled up with a thickwet mixture of cement and sand, which will prevent the rust marksusually left upon the concrete after the iron bolts have been cut otl`at the surface.

rl`he formation of the foundation for the concrete between the initiallyfinished blocks may be made by either of the following methods: rThelirst is illustrated in Fig. -,.L wl ei'ein the water surface in thisspace may be reached some two feet or more above the `upper tie of thesub-construction which forms the main support for the concrete work.rihis construction prefere. le where the placing of the concretedirectly in the water is not ob jeetionable, in which case the llooringis formed resting on the crossties and crib filling and the concreteplaced over this until it reaches above the water level. A' ter theI-beams l0 have been placed in position the cell boxes are then properlylocated and the filling proceeded with, as described for the initiallyformed blocks. if the placing of the concrete in *l water isobjectionable then the construction may be carried out in the mannershown in Fig. G. rllhis involves the use of two concrete blocks 22, asshown in Fig. l1, equal in length to the space between the two finishedconcrete sections, and having a width equal to that of the side timbersof the crib, the height of the blocks being about equal to the height ofthe water level above the top of the side timbers. For each block 22 isprovided a U-shaped hanger 23 having hooked extremities which serve thedouble purpose of convenience in handling and placing by means of aderrick, and, further, to make a strong connection with the mass ofconcrete placed about and above them. ln this construction anintermediate support will be provided in the nature of timbers 24. Whenthe two concrete side blocks and the timbers referred to are in place,the regular stone filling of the crib should be built up equal to theheight of the blocks and the side timbers, then covered with small stoneand gravel, as is done for thewhole foundation. Over this gravel isplaced a covering of burlap 2G. The building of the superstructureproceeds when the intermediate connecting blocks or sections of the pierare completed. The forms 17 -are removed in the same manner as the endwalls of the block forms.

The process of construction as herein described is comparatively cheap,embodies simplicity, and permits of increasing or decreasing thestrength of the structure, as desired, according to the requirementsunder different conditions, by means of the cell boxes. By making theseboxes smaller, the concrete walls will be larger and consequentlystronger. By constructingagreater number of cell boxes there will be agreater number of cross walls, also adding to the strength of thestructure. The cell boxes may be placed in several layers, thus addingone or more horizontal walls and accordingly increasing the strength,as, for example, in high retaining walls.

By the term pier l in the appended claims, mean to include docks,wharves, break-waters and similar structures.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

l. 'lhe herein-described process of consti-noting the superstructure ofa pier over crib work, which consists in filling in the substructurewith ballast to a point slightly below low water level to provide afoundas tion, arranging on this foundation in spaced relation asuccession of approximately water-tight box forms each having Cellboxes, filling' in the spaces between the cell boxes and forms withConcrete, removing the walls of the forms after the Concrete has set,and joining` the blocks produced to oonerete blocks of likeconstruction.

2. A pier having a superstructure Colnposod of a series of cellularconcrete sections arranged cross-wise of the pier and oonneetedtogether.

3. The herein-described process of Constructing the superstructure of apier, which consists in arranging on the foundation of the pier, inspaced relation, a succession of box forins each having cell boxes,filling in the forms around the boxes with concrete, removing the wallsof the forms and joining the blocks produced to concrete blocks of likeconstruction.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing` witnesses.

GUSTAVE A. M. LILJENCRANTZ.

Witnesses JAMES J. REYNOLDS, H. E. h/IARSHALL.A

